Opera on Sweden\u2019s famous Tennis Centre Court in B\u00e5stad, a special exhibition, concerts and talks at the Birgit Nilsson Museum, the Stipendium Recital in \u201cBirgit\u2019s Church\u201d at V\u00e4stra Karup, a public masterclass at Ravinen Cultural Centre, plus screenings of historic performances and tv appearances at the local Scala Cinema. The 2025 Birgit Nilsson Festival presents more than 20 events between 3 & 9 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith this year\u2018s Festival we are aiming higher than ever before. It will be a programme with culture at its heart, ringing out both musically and in glasses across Sweden \u2013 with the launch of a new wine in honour of Birgit Nilsson, produced by the local Bj\u00e4re Peninsula\u2019s award winning vinyard Thora Ving\u00e5rd,\u201d reveals Bengt Hall, Festival Artistic Director and Board Member of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the Birgit Nilsson Museum in the village of Svenstad visitors can experience a new exhibition. \u201cHome\u201d explores the legendary Soprano\u2019s lifelong relationship with the landscape and community which influenced her throughout her life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThroughout the week we will also present an exciting array of concerts at the museum \u2013 ranging from Wagner to Ulla Billqvist, two of Birgit’s favourite and very different composers,\u201c said the museum’s CEO Elisabeth Bostr\u00f6m who added \u201cthere will also be dramatic opera virtuosically transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt, an opera sing-along in the courtyard for the whole family and a programme of daily talks with guests who have a special connection to Birgit and the world of opera.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 17 May \u2013 Birgit\u2019s birthday – the recipient of this year’s Birgit Nilsson Stpendium will be announced in Svenstad, coinciding with the museum\u2019s season opening. The laureate will return in August to receive the award and perform in the church at V\u00e4stra Karup, where Birgit performed throughout her life. Previous recipiens of the scholarship include Nina Stemme, Malin Bystr\u00f6m, Gitta-Maria Sj\u00f6berg and Hillevi Martinpelto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic opera Aida features international and Swedish star singers. Pier Giorgio Morandi, one of the world’s foremost Verdi specialists, leads the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, soloists and a choir of around 100 local singers from across Sk\u00e5ne who, together with dancers (!), take their place on a specially built stage on B\u00e5stad\u2019s famous tennis center court, for a major outdoor performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading the cast are Joyce El-Khoury (Aida) and Fredrik Zetterstr\u00f6m (Amonasro), both of whom have previously made acclaimed appearances in these roles, as well as Martin Muehle (Radam\u00e8s, coming to us directly from Verona where he performs the same role) and Elisabeth DeShong (Amneris). The production also features eight dancers choreographed by Joakim Stephenson. The stage direction is by Staffan Valdemar Holm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the week, B\u00e5stad\u2019s Scala Cinema will show historic Birgit performances and tv appearances \u2013 including some real rarities from the Swedish TV archives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This summer, you can meet the concert and opera stars of tomorrow at the Ravinen Cultural Centre in Norrviken. Internationally acclaimed Swedish soprano Camilla Tilling leads this year’s Birgit Nilsson Master Class, presented for the tenth consecutive year. She is joined by pianists Annika Bjelk and Jacob Lid\u00e5kra. New to the course this year is stage presentation, led by director Katarina S\u00f6renson. Following four days of public masterclasses the students perform in concert in the Birgit Nilsson Hall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– \u2018What could be better and more enriching than musical encounters on the beautiful Bj\u00e4re Peninsula,’ summarises Camilla Tilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Birgit Nilsson Festival is arranged by the Birgit Nilsson Foundation in collaboration with the Birgit Nilsson Museum, Birgit Nilsson Society of Friends & S&E Destination Development Backahill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n